Feed-water-regulating system



Nov. 16, 192e. 1,607,120

I W. DOBLE FEED WATER REGULATING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1924 U TTOE/VfYi Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,607,120 PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN DOBLE, F BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO DOBLE STEAM MOTORSCORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

FEED-WATER-REGULATING SYSTEM.

Application filed September 29, 1924, Serial No. 740,641.

The invention relates to a system of controlling the rate at which feedWater is introduced into a steam boiler by a feed Water pump.

An object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the rateof flow of feed Water to the boiler independent of the speed of the feedWater pump. y

Another object of the invention is to provide means for introducing feedWater into the boiler at a substantially constant rate.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for varying the rateat which the feed Water is pumped to the boiler in accord- 15 ance withthe'temperature of the boiler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for controllingthe amount of Water introduced into the boiler in accordance With thepressure existing within the boiler.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of Which withthe foregoing, Will be set forth in the followlng description, Where Ishall outline in fullthat form of my invention Which I have selected forillustration in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the presentspecification. In the drawing I have shown one form of apparatusembodying my invention,

but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form,since the invention, as

set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

The drawing is a somewhat diagrammatic representation ofthe system of myinvention, some of the `devices forming parts of the system being shownin section to more clearly illustrate their construction.

The system of my invention comprises means for controlling theintroduction of feed Water into a steam boiler, preferably in accordanceWith the conditions of temperature vand pressure Within the boiler. Thefeed Water is introduced into the boiler by a pump which is preferablyconnected to the engine, which is driven by steam from the boiler, sothat the plunger of the pump is Working when the engine is in operationand means are provided for controlling the rate at which Water isintroduced into the boiler. These means include means controlled by therate at which Water is introduced into the boiler to maintain the ratesubstantially constant, means controlled by variations in temperatureWithin the boiler for controllingl the rate at which Water is introducedinto the boiler and means con- -trolled byvariations in pressure Withinthe boiler for controlling the introduction of Water into the boiler. Tocontrol the amount of Water introduced into the boiler or the rate atwhich it is introduced, the pump is preferably disabled by controllingor preventing t'he operation of the pump inlet valve, so thatreciprocation of the pump piston will not operate to pump Water. Thecontrol of the rate of introduction by variations in temperature aboveand below a predetermined magnitude is effected by short circuiting-orby-passing the rate controlling means. The system is particularlyapplicable to steam generating plants for use on steam automobiles,conveyances and other vehicles. i

The system vof my invention comprises a boiler or steam generator 2Which issupplied with heat by any suitable type of burner or heatgenerating apparatus, which is preferably provided With a control sothat the amount of heat delivered to the boiler is controlled. Steamfrom the boiler is conducted through the conduit 3 to the steam engine4,*which is employed for propelling the vehicle. Water is supplied tothe boiler from a supply tank 5 by the feed Water pump 6, which ispreferably directly connectedto the steam engine, so that the pumppiston 7 reciprocates continuously during the operation of the engine.The pump is provided With'an inlet valve 8 and an outlet valve 9 andmeans are provided for disabling the pump to control the amount of Waterdelivered thereby. The control of the quantity of Water delivered by thepump to the boiler is preferably accomplished by controlling the inletor the 'discharge valve of the pump and since the inlet valve operatesunder less pressure than the outlet valve, I prefer to control theoperation of the inlet valve. This control is accomplished by pro- 100viding means for unseatingv and holding unseated the inlet valve 8, whenthe discharge of Water from the pump is to be interrupted. Associatedwith the inlet valve 8 is a rod 12 which when elevated holds the'valve 8from 105 its seat. Secured to the rod 12 is a magnetic core 13 Which isassociated with a solenoid 14. The rod 12 extends through the core andsolenoid and is provided on its lower end with a foot 15 Which bearsagainst o a spring 16 Which normally holds the rod 12 elevated and thevalve 8 unseated. When the solenoid 14 is energized, the core 13 ispulled downward, againstthe action of the spring 16, and is helddownward as long as the solenoid is energized. When the rod 12 is moveddownward, the upper end of the rod is withdrawn from contact with theinlet valve 8, so that such valve is then permittedv control the rate atwhich water is introduced into the boiler. This control is accomplishedby providing means for maintaining a substantially con-:tant dierentialbetween the pressures on opposite sides of the orifice, so that theamount of water passing through the orifice is substantially constant.The rate at which Water passes the orifice is determined by thedifferential pressure at the orifice and, by controlling thisdifferential pressure, the rate at which water is introduced into theboiler may be controlled. When the differential pressure at the orificeincreases beyond a predetermined value, means are actuated which operateto disable the pump. The pumping capacity of the pump is greater thanthe water demand of the boiler and the control means serves toalternately disable and enable the pump, so

that the rate at which water is introduced into the boiler iscontrolled. During the operation of the pump, the pressure of the waterpulsates, due to the reciprocation of the pump plunger. Connected to thepipes 17 and 18 at opposite sides of the valve 19 is a chamber orcylinder 21 having a movable member or piston 22 therein, which issubjected on one side topump pressure and on the other side to the lowerpressure existing on the other side of the valve 19 and the piston isurged in a direction opposite to the force applied by the pump pressure,by a spring 23. The pressure of the spring is the equivalent of thedifferential pressure Vwhich may be produced at opposite sides of theorifice in the valve 19 during the normal operation of the pump. Thechamber 21 has sufficient volume to act as a pressure storage chamber,into and outlv of which water flows, as the differential pressure at theorifice varies. The spring 23 acts to maintain the differential pressuresubstantially constant. As the differential pressure on the movable wallincreases, due

to the operation of the pump, and the presence of the restrictedaperture through which water must pass, a portion of the water pumpedpasses into the pressure chamber 21, causing a movement of the wall 22in opposition' to the pressure of the spring. Secured to the piston 22and extending from the chamber' 21, is a rod or stem 24, the upper endof which is arranged in operative relation with the arm 25 of a switcharranged in the circuit of the solenoid 14. The arm 25 carries at itsend a contact 26 which cooperates with the fixed contact 27 to open andclose the solenoid circuit. This circuit includes the ground 28, asource lof electrical energy such as a storage battery 29, theconductors 31, 32 and 33, and the ground 34. When the diderentialpressure at opposite sides o f the orifice in the valve 19 increases toa predetermined maximum, said maximum being the force required tocompress the spring 23, the piston 22 is raised to open the switchbetween the contacts 26 and 27, thus opening the circuit of the solenoid14, permitting the spring- 16 to unseat and hold unseated the inletvalve 8. The water stored under pressure in the chamber 21 below thepiston therein is then discharged from the chambers into the pipe 17 andpasses'through the orifice. Thus when the rate of introduction of feedwater exceeds the predetermined "maximum, the pump is renderedinoperative and as soon as the differential pressure drops below thepredetermined maximum, the solenoid circuit is again closed, andthe pumprendered operative. In practice, the solenoid circuit is intermittentlyopened and closed to control the rate at which feed water is introducedinto the boiler and such control and the presence of the storage chamber21 serves to maintain the rate at which water passes the valvesubstantially constant.

Means are provided for controlling the in troduction of feed water intothe boiler in accordance with the pressure obtaining with'- in theboiler, so 'that the boiler may not be flooded-with water and so thatthe pressure within the boiler may not become excessive. Connected tothesteam space within the boiler i3 a pressure responsive device orpressure cell 36, which expands and contracts as the pressure of thesteam within the boiler increases and decreases. The movable wall 37 ofthe pressure responsive device is provided with a stem or projection 38which is associated with the switch arm 39, forming part of a switchinterposed in the .circuit of the solenoid 14. Theswitch arm 39 ispivoted on a suitable fulcrum 41 and is provided at its end with acontact 42 which is normally in contact with the fixed contact 43. Whenthe pressure in the boiler exceeds a cert-ain predetermined maximum, thestem 38 contacts with the arm 39 and moves said arm to separate thecontacts 42 and 43, thus opening the circuit of the solenoid 14 anddisabling the inlet valve 8 of the feed water pump. l

The system also contemplates the provision c-f means for controlling theamount of water introduced into the boiler in accordance withtemperature conditions within the boiler. Connected to the pipes 17 and18, at opposite sides of the valve 19, by the pipes 45 and 46, is aby-pass valve body 47, the flow of water through which is controlled bythe valve 48. The position of the valve 48 is controlled by variationsof the temperature of the steam in the boiler, to control the amount ofwater by-passed around the orifice in the valve 19. The valve 48 isprovided with a stem 49 to which is secured a magnetic core 51, which isassociated with the solenoid 52. The valve 48 is normally held to itsseat by a spring 53 engaging the head 54 on the end of the stem 49, sothat no water is by-passed around the valve 19. lVhen the solenoid 52 isenergized, the core 51 is lifted, unseating the valve 48 and permittingwater to pass through the by-pass conduits 45 and 46. The circuit of thesolenoid 52 is controlled by variations in temperature of the steamwithin the boiler. Arranged in the circuit of the solenoid 52 is aswitch arm 56 provided at its end with a contact 57 which cooperateswith a fixed contact 58 in the solenoid circuit. The switch arm 56 isconnected with a suitable thermal responsive device such as a quartz rod59 disposed within a metallic tube 61 fixed to the shell of the boilerand extending into the steam space in the boiler. As the temperature ofthe steam in the boiler increases, the tube 61 is elongated and thequartz rod 59 recedes and effects the closing of the switch contacts 57and 58. The solenoid 52 is then energized and the valve 48 unseated topermit-water from the pump to flow around the valve 19 to the boiler.The circuit of the solenoid 52 comprises the ground 28, source ofelectrical energy 29, conductor 31, 'switch contacts 42 and 43,conductor 62, switch contacts 57 and 58, conductor 63 and ground 64. Thepressure actuated switch contacts 42 and 43 are in series with thecontacts 26 and 27 of the differential pressure controlled switch andare in series with the switch contacts 57 and 58 of the temperaturecontrolled switch, so that an increase in boiler pressure above apredetermined magnitude disables the pump and prevents the eectiveoperation of the other devices of the system as long as the excesspressure exists.

1. The combination with a steam boiler and a continuously driven feedwater pump, of a conduit having a restricted passage therein connectingthe pump to the boiler',

producing different pressures on oppositev sides of the passage, andmeans actuated by the differential pressure for enabling and disablingthe pump.

3. The combination with a steam engine arranged to propel a vehicle, ofa steam boiler for supplying steam to said engine, a feed water pumppermanently connected to said engine and driven thereby at varyingspeeds and means independent of the speed of the engine for controllingthe rate at which Water is introduced into the boiler.

4. The combination with a steam engine arranged to propel a vehicle, ofa steam boiler for supplying steam to said engine, a feed water pumpdriven by said engine, a conduit having a restricted Vpassage thereinconnecting the pump to the boiler, the flow of water through the conduitproducing different pressures on opposite sides of the passage, andmeans actuated by the said differential pressure for controlling therate at which water is introduced into the boiler independently ofthespeed of the pump.

. 5. The combination with a steam boiler, of a conduit having arestricted passage therein, ,connected to the boiler, a pump adapted toforce water through the conduit, a pressure responsive device subjectedto the diiferential pressure produced. on opposite sides of the passagedue to the flow of water through the conduit, a solenoid for controllingthe operation of the pump, a circuit for said solenoid and a switch insaid circuit arranged to be operated by said pressure ,A

responsive device. 6. The combination with a steam boiler, of a conduithaving a restricted passage therein, connectedfto the boiler, a pumpadapted to force water through the conduit, a pressure responsive devicesubjected tothe differential vpressure produced on o posite sides of thepassage' due to the flow o .water through the conduit, means actuated bthe movement of the pressure responsive evice to control the operationof the pump, a second conduit connecting the pump to the boiler andmeans controlled by variations in temperature within the boiler forcontrolling the flow of water through the second conduit.

7. The combination with a steam boiler, of a conduit having a restrictedpassage therein, connected to the boiler, a pump adapted to force Waterthrough the conduit, a pressure responsive device subjected to thedifferential pressure produced on opposite sides of the passage due tothe flow of Water through the conduit, means actuated by the movement ofthe pressure responsive device to control the operation of the pump, asecond conduit connecting the ump to the boiler, and means controlled byvariations in pressure and Vtemperature within the boiler forcontrolling the ow of Water through the second conduit.

8. The combination with a steam boiler, of a conduit, having arestricted passage therein, connected to the boiler, a pump adapted toforce water through the conduit, a pressure responsive device subjectedto the differential pressure produced on opposite sides of the assagedue to the flow -of Water through t e conduit, means actuated by themovement of' the pressure responsive device to control the pump andmeans actuated by variations in pressure -Witliin the boiler. to controlthe pump.

9. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed water pump. of aconduit having a restricted passage therein connecting .the pump to theboiler, the flow of Water through the conduit producin differentpressures on opposite sides of te passage, means actuated by saiddifferential pressure for controlling the rate at which Water isintroduced into the boiler and means controlled by variations intemperature Within the boiler for bypassing Water around said passage.

10. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed Water pump, of aconduit having a restricted passage therein connecting the pump to theboiler, the flow of Water through the conduit producing differentpressures on opposite sides of the passage, means actuated by saiddifferential pressure for controlling the rate at which Water isintroduced into the boiler and means controlled by variations intemperature in the boiler for temporarily varying the rate at whichwater is introduced into the boiler.

11. The combination With a steam boiler and a feed Water pump, of aconduit having a restricted passage therein connecting the pump to theboiler, the flow of water through the conduit producing differentpressures on opposite sides of the passage, means actuated by saiddifferential pressure for controlling the rate at which Water is,introduced into the boiler and means controlled by an increase inboiler temperature beyond a predetermined maximum for increasing therate at which Water is introduced into the boiler.

12. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed Water pump, of aconduit having a restricted passage therein connecting the kpump to theboiler, the flow of Water through the conduit producing differentpressures on op osite sides of the passage, means actuated saiddifferential pressure for controlling tlie rate at which Water isintroduced into the boiler, a by-pass conduit around said passage andmeans controlled by variations in temperature in the boiler forlcontrolling the flow of water through the by-pass conduit.

13. The combination With a steam boiler and a power driven feed Waterpum of a conduit having a restricted aperture tierein connecting thepump to the boiler, means for rendering the pump inoperative to pumpWater and means actuated by an increase in the differential pressure onopposite sides of the apertures to a predetermined magnitude, to actuatesaid first named means.

14. The combination with a` steam boiler and an engine connectedthereto, of a feed Water pump driven by the engine and means for causingWater to be introduced into the boiler at a substantially constant rateindependent of the speed of the pump.

15. The combination with a steam boiler and a power driven feed Waterpump, of

means for causing the water to be introduced into the boiler at asubstantially constant rate independent of the speed of the pump.

16. The combination With a steam boiler and a power driven feed Waterpum), of means for causing the Water to be intro uced into the boiler ata substantially constant rate independent of boiler pressure andindependent of the speed of the pump.

17. The combination with a steam boiler and an engine connected thereto,of a feed Water pump permanently connected to the engine and meansindependent of the speed of the engine for causing the Water to beintroduced into the boiler at a substantially constant rate.

18. The combination With a steam boiler and a feed Water pump, of aconduit having a restricted passage therein connecting the pump to theboiler, a spring loaded movable member subjected on one side to pumppressure and on the spring loaded side to the pressure on the dischargeside of the passage and means actuated by the movement of said memberfor controlling the pump.

19. The combination With a steam boiler and a continuously driven feedWater pump of a conduit having a restricted aperture therein, a springloaded movable element subjected on one sidel to pump pressure and onthe spring loaded side to the pressure on the discharge side of theaperture and means actuated by the movement of said member for enablingand disabling lthe pump.

20. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed Water pump, of aconnecting conduit, a pressure responsive device sensitive to the dropin pressure in the conduit caused by the flow of water therethrough,connected to the conduit, means actuated by the pressure responsivedevice for controlling the operation o-f the pump and means actuated byvariations in pressure in the boiler above and below a predeterminedpressure, for controlling the operation of the pump.

21. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed water pump connectedthereto, of a casing through which water is pumped to the boiler, saidcasing being provided with a restricted passage whereby differentpressures are produced at opposite sides of the passage, a spring loadedmovable element subjected on opposite sides to-said respective pressuresand means actuated by the movement of said element for controlling thepump.

22. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed water pump connectedthereto, of a casing through which the water is pumped to the boiler,said casing being provided with a restricted passage whereby differentpressures are produced at opposite sides of the passage, a spring loadedmovable element subjected on opposite sides to said respectivepressures, means for disabling the pump and means operative by themovement of said element due to an increase in the differential pressureon said element for actuating said disabling means.V

23. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed water pump connectedthereto, of

a casing through which the water is pumped to the boiler, said easingbeing provided with a4 restricted aperture, a by-pass conduit aroundsaid aperture and means controlled by variations in the temperature ofthe steam in the boiler for controlling the passage of Water throughsaid by-pass conduit.

24. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed water pump connectedthereto, of a casing through which the water is pumped to the boiler,said casing being provided with a restricted aperture, a by-pass conduitaround said aperture and means operative by an increase in boiler steamtemperature to a predetermined magnitude to open said by-pass conduit.

25. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed wat-er pump, of aconduit through which the water is pumped to the boiler, said conduitbeing provided with a restricted aperture to control the flow of waterthrough the conduit, a by-pass conduit around said aperture 'and meansactuated by variatie-ns in boiler steam temperature for controlling thepassage of water through said by-pass conduit.

26. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed water pump, of a`conduit through which the water is pumped to the boiler, said conduitbeing provided with a restricted aperture to control the flow of Waterthrough the conduit, a normally closed by-pass conduit around saidaperture and means actuated by an increase of boiler steam temperatureto a predetermined magnitude to open said by-pass conduit.

27. The combination of a steam boiler and a feed Water pump, of aconduit through vwhich the water is pumped to the boiler, said conduitbeing provided with a restricted aperture to control the flow of waterthrough the conduit, a by-pass conduit around said aperture, a valvecontrolling the flow of water through the by-pass conduit and meansactuated lby variations in the tempera-v ture of the boiler steam foractuating said valve.

28,. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed water pump, of aconduit through which the water is pumped to the boiler, said conduitbeing provided With a restricted aperture to contro-l the flow of waterthrough the conduit, a by-pass conduit around said aperture, a normallyclosed valve in said conduit and means actuated by a rise of boilersteam temperature to a predetermined magnitude to open said valve.

29. The combination with a steam boiler and a feed water pump, of aconduit through which the water is pumped to the boiler, said conduitbeing provided with a restricted aperture to control the flow of waterthrough the conduit, a by-pass conduit around said aperture, a normallyclosed valve in said conduit and means actuated by a rise of boilersteam temperature to a predetermined magnitude to open said valve and bya decrease in boiler steam temperature below said magnitude to closesaid valve.

30. The combination With a steam boiler and a feed wat-er pump, of aconduit through which the water is pumped to the boiler', said conduitbeing provided with a restricted aperture to control the flow of waterthrough the conduit, a by-pass conduit around said aperture, a valve forcontrolling the flow of Water through said conduit, a solenoid ar#ranged to operate said valve, a circuit for the solenoid and meansactuated by variations in boiler steam temperature above and below apredetermined magnitude for controlling said circuit.

31. The combination with a steam boiler, a steam engine connectedthereto and a feed water pump driven by the steam engine, of a conduitconnecting the pump and the boiler, said conduit being provided with arestricted aperture through which the Water passes means for adjustingthe area of said aperture and means operated by the difference inpressure on opposite sides of the aperture for controlling said pump.

32. The combination with a steam boiler, a steam engine connectedthereto and a feed water pump driven by the steam engine, of a conduitconnecting the pump and the boiler, said conduit being provided with arestricted aperture through which the water passes, means for adjustingthe area of said aperture, a movable element subjected on opposite sidesto the pressures produced on opposite sides of the aperture and meansactuated by the movement of the element for controllingthe operation ofthe pump.

33. The combination with a steam boiler, asteam engine connected theretoand a feed water pump driven by the steam engine, of a conduitconnecting the pump and the boiler, said conduit being provided with arestricted aperture through which the water passes, means for adjustingthe area of said aperture, a movable element .subjected on oppositesides. tol the pressures produced onopposite sides of the aperture, asolenoid controlling the operation of the pump, a circuit for saidsolenoid and means operated by the movement of said element forcontrolling said circuit.

34. The combination with a steam boiler, a steam engine connectedthereto and a feed water pump driven by the steam engine, of a conduitconnecting the pump and the boiler, said conduit being provided with arestricted aperture through which the water passes, means for adjustingthe area of said aperture, a movable element subjected on opposite sidesto thev pressures produced on opposite sides of the aperture, a solenoidcontrolling the operation of the pump, a circuit for said solenoid,means operated by the movement of said element for controlling saidcircuit and means operative by variations in boiler pressure forcontrolling said circuit.

35. The combination with a steam boiler and an engine connected thereto,of a feed water pump permanently connected to the engine, a con-duitconnecting the pump with the boiler, means in the conduit arranged torestrict the flow of water therethrough and means arranged to by-passwater around said restricting means, the passage of water through theby-pass being controlled by variations in temperature within the boiler.

36. The combination with a steam boiler and an engine connected thereto,of a feed water pump driven by the engine and a conduit having arestricted aperture therein connectin the pump to the boiler, meanscontrolle by the dierence in pressure on opposite sides of the aperturefor controlling the rate at which water is pumped into the boilerindependent of the speed of the engine, and manually adjustable meansfor varying the rate.

37. The combination with a conduit having a restricted passage therein'through which water flows, the passage of water through said passageserving to produce different pressures on opposite sides of the passage,of a plunger pump connected to said conduit, a chamber connected to saidconduit on opposite sides of the passage, and a resiliently mounted wallin said chamber subjected on opposite sides to said different pressures.

38. In an apparatus of the character de# scribed, a chamber divided intotwo compartments by a resilient movable partition, a fluid pum connectedto one compartment, a steam boi er connected to the other compartment, aconduit having a restricted passage therein connecting the compartmentsand means operable by the movement of the partiti-on for controlling theoperation of thefpump. v

39. In an apparatus of the character described, a chamber divided intotwo compartments by a resiliently mounted movable partition, a fluidpump, a conduitconnecting the pump to one compartment, a steam boiler, asecond conduit connecting the steam boiler to the other compartment, athird conduit having a restricted passage therein connecting said firstand second conduits and means controlled by the movement of saidpartition for controlling the rate of How of water through said thirdconduit.

40. In an apparatus of the character described, a Chamber divided intotwo compartments by a spring loaded partition, a iiuid pump7 a conduitconnecting said pump with the compartment below the partition, a steamboiler, a conduit connecting the boiler with the compartment above thepartition, a third conduit having a restricted passage thereinconnecting said first two conduits, said partition being movable to varythe volumetric capacity of the compartment below the partition and todisable said pump when the partition has moved a predetermined distance.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WARREN DOBLE.

